Daim meets Chinese PM bearing a letter from Mahathir

The former finance minister says Malaysia values bilateral ties and is supportive of the 'One Belt and One Road' initiative.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang looks at a letter given by Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad during a meeting with government adviser Daim Zainuddin at the Zhongnanhai Leadership Compound in Beijing. (Reuter’s pic)

PETALING JAYA: Council of Eminent Person’s chairman Daim Zainuddin personally delivered a letter from Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at a meeting in Beijing today.

In a statement on the Chinese foreign ministry website, Daim said the people from both countries have had a friendly relationship traditionally, and Malaysia’s new government values bilateral ties.

Daim also said the government was supportive of China’s President Xi Jinping’s “One Belt and One Road” (OBOR) cooperation proposal.

“Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad understands China, and has been proactively developing the relationship with China. He hopes to make his official visit to the country the soonest possible, to discuss with China’s leadership about future collaboration plans,” the statement quoted him as saying.

The former finance minister is also likely to discuss the resumption of stalled China-led infrastructure projects in Malaysia ahead of Mahathir’s planned visit to the republic next month.

Earlier this month, Mahathir revealed that Daim would be heading to China and said: “I think he wants to talk with the Chinese about some contracts.”

Mahathir is also expected to raise the issue of the alleged unfairness in the terms of the contract for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project and the loan involved.

Meanwhile, China’s Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi said China and Malaysia’s relationship has lasted a long time and would be able to withstand any challenges.

The relationship, he said, was not merely a comprehensive strategic partnership but a pragmatic one.

“Both countries have just formed a new term of government recently, hence the bilateral relationship is at a new historical starting point,” he said in a statement. -FMT